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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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SdaiCies 
CarpoFation 


33  wht  mam  itrmt 

wimtm,n.y.  i4sm 

(71*)  •73-4303 


^^<«^A 


4^ 


v\ 


CIHM/ICMH 


Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Cunadian  irMtituta  for  Historical  Microroproduction*  /  Inttitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


6^ 


T«chnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Nota*  tachniquaa  at  biblioflrapliiquas 


Tlia  Inatituta  Iwa  attamptad  to  obtain  tlia  baat 
originai  copy  avaiiabia  for  fHming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  wliieli  may  ba  bililiograplilealiy  uniqua, 
whicit  may  altar  any  of  ttia  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  wMch  may  aignlficantly  ehanga 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  baiow. 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 


0 


D 


D 


Couvartura  andommag^a 

Covara  rattorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  palliculAa 


r~n   Covar  titia  misaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


I     I   Coloui'ad  maps/ 


Cartas  gAographiquas  mt  coulaur 

Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  biua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I     I   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarioi/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autras  documants 


Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  sarr4a  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  rastoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  possibia,  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainas  pagas  blanchaa  aioutAaa 
tors  d'una  rastauration  apparaissant  dana  to  taxta, 
mais.  lorsqua  cato  4tait  possibia.  cas  pagas  n'ont 
pas  At*  film«as. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commantairas  supplAmantairas; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  possibia  da  sa  procurer.  Las  details 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atra  uniquas  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modiftoation  dans  la  mAthode  normato  de  fiimage 
aont  indiquAs  ci-dassous. 


D 
D 
D 
0 
D 
0 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  peges/ 
Pagaa  de  coutour 

Pagas  damaged/ 
Pagas  endommagAes 

Peges  restored  end/or  lemineted/ 
Pages  resteurAes  et/ou  peiliculAes 

Peges  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Peges  dAcolorAes,  tschetAes  ou  piquAes 

Peges  deteched/ 
Pages  dAtechAes 

Showthrough/ 
Trensparance 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
QuelitA  inAgeto  de  i'impression 

includes  supptomentery  meteriel/ 
Comprend  du  metAriel  suppiAmenteire 

Only  edition  avaiiebto/ 
Seuie  Adition  disponible 

Pagas  wholly  or  partieily  obscured  by  erreta 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  heve  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  imege/ 
Les  peges  toteiement  ou  pertiellement 
obscurcies  per  un  feuillet  d'erreta.  une  peiure. 
etc.,  ont  AtA  fiimAes  A  nouveeu  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  le  meilleure  imege  possibls. 


f 


T 


M 
di 
er 
b< 
ri| 
re 
m 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  retio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fllmA  au  taux  de  rAduction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

10X                          14X                          1IX                          22X 

2fX 

SOX 

/ 

12X 

itx 

aDX 

MX 

ax 

32X 

Atailt 
w  du 
nodifier 
ir  una 
ilmags 


I* 


•rrata 
to 


palura. 


Tha  copy  fiimad  hara  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacifications. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  fiimad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  iatt  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  fiimad  baginning  on  tha 
f  irat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
aion.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iliuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microflcha 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  -i»>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  ▼  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

Mapa,  plataa.  charta,  ate,  may  ba  fiimad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
antlraly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  fiimad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  corner,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  illuatrata  tha 
mathod: 


1 

2 

3 

L'axamplaira  film4  f ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
g4n4roalti  da: 

BibiiothAqua  nationala  du  Canada 


Laa  imagaa  auivantaa  ont  4t4  raproduKaa  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  filmi,  at  an 
conformity  avac  laa  condMona  du  contrat  da 
fllmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  ImprimAa  aont  film4a  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarmlnant  aolt  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  eomporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration,  aoit  par  la  aacond 
plat,  aalon  la  eaa.  Toua  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  aont  fllmia  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  eomporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  an  tarmlnant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  eomporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  aymbolaa  auhranta  apparattra  aur  la 
darnlAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microflcha,  aalon  la 
caa:  la  aymbola  -^  aignifia  "A  8UIVRE".  la 
aymbola  V  aignifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa.  planchaa.  tableaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atra 
filmAa  A  daa  taux  da  rAduction  diff Aranta. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  aaul  clichA,  11  aat  filmA  A  partir 
da  I'angia  aupAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  A  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagaa  nAcaaaaira.  Laa  diagrammaa  auivanta 
illuatrant  la  mAthoda. 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

6 

6 

ANNUAL  MESSAGE 


or 


■•!' 


at 


GOVERNOR  SWIFT 


TO  THE 


'I 

.   Ml  , 

.'■ti : 

-  i! 


LEGISLATURE  OF  MINNESOTA, 


DELIVEKED  JANUARY  11,  1864. 


T'-Il 


PRINTED    BY    AUTHORITY. 


SAINT  PAUL: 
FREDERICK   DRISCOLL,   STATE   PRINTER. 

PRESS    !•  B  I  N  T  I N  O    COMPANY. 

1864. 


I'tJ 


a 


'i\ 


'  .'111; 


i 


.,  ^s 


«! 


GOYERKOR'S  MESSAGE. 


I 

.  ri.  K 


''■:n 


'•'M 


Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Bepresentatives: 

In  complying  with  the  Constitutional  provisions  requir- 
ing the  Governor  to  "  communicate  to  each  session  of  the 
Legislature  such  information  touching  the  state  and  con- 
dition of  the  country  as  he  may  deem  expedient"  the 
liand  of  an  afflicting  Providence  has  prevented  my  devoting 
the  usual  time  to  the  treatment  of  the  numerous  topics  in- 
volving the  interests  of  a  new  and  rapidly  growing  State. 

I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  congratulate  you  that  our  young 
State  has  continued,  during  the  past  year,  to  enjoy  in  fnll 
measure,  the  remarkable  prosperity  which  has  characterized 
the  loyal  section  of  this  Union,  while  engaged  in  the  stupen- 
dous conflict  which  has  drawn  so  tearfully  upon  its  resourc- 
es, and  engulphed  so  much  of  its  "precious  blood  and  treas- 
ure. Though  more  than  one-iiftcenth  of  our  whole  popula- 
tion by  the  census  of  ISGO,  has  been  sent  to  reinforce  the 
armies  ot  the  republic,  and  several  counties  liave  been  de- 
])opulated  by  the  Indian  raid,  there  is  good  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  numbers  thus  tein])orurily  withdrawn  from  tlie 
State  have  been  more  than  raudo  up  by  immigration  and  na- 
tural incieaso,  and  that  our  poi>ulation,  whicli,  in  1860, 
numbered  1T2,')22,  is  udw  not  less  tlian  225,U0(). 

Agriculture,  which  was  tlie  interest  most  directly  assailed 
by  the  war,  is  also  tlie  iirst  to  enjoy  its  compensations.  Im- 
migration has  more  tlian  repaired  the  thinne<l  ranks  of  our 
husbandmen,  from  whom  our  vohinteers  in  tlie  Held  were 
chielly  8U])pliod,  and  with  the  introduction  and  more  gene- 
ral use  of  agricultural  machinery,  luis  probably  prevented 
any  diminution  of  the  area  under  cultivation.  And  it  ia  a 
wonderful  evidence  of  the  latent  rebourccs  of  our  soil  and 


mi 


m 


■  m 


4\ 


govern-ok's  message. 


climate,  that,  in  spite  of  a  drouth  of  unprecedented  duration 
and  severity,  the  year's  crop  is  estimated  at  about  two-thirds 
of  the  average.  About  4,000,000  bushels  of  wheat,  and 
half  that  quantity  of  corn,  oats  and  potatoes,  respectively, 
are  estimated  as  the  product  of  the  year.  The  higher  prices 
of  grain  would  undoubtedly  liavo  made  up  for  the  deficien- 
cy, if  the  cause  which  produced  it  had  not  obstructed  the 
navigation  of  our  principal  rivers,  and  thus  partially  de- 
prived us  of  our  only  channels  of  exportation.  The  same 
extraordinary  cause  has  operated  injuriously  upon  the  lum- 
bering interests  of  the  iStato.  Seventy-livo  millions  feet  of 
logs  cut  during  the  winter  of  1802  and  1S63,  are  estimated 
to  be  lying  in  the  shruidcen  streams  that  traverse  our  north- 
ern forests,  awaiting  the  long  delayed  rise  of  water  to  lloat 
them  to  their  destination. 

The  surveyors  of  logs  for  four  districts  report  their  opera- 
tions during  the  past  season  as  follows: 

Logs  scaled  in  the  First  District,  (Stillwater,)  28,013,740  ft. 

i-iogs  scaled  in  the  Second  District,    (St.  An- 
thony,) ...  -  21,634,770  ft. 

Logs  scaled  in  the   Fifth   District,  (Waba 
shaw,) 308,348  ft. 

Log?i  scaled  in  the  Seventh  District,  (Winona,)      291,001  ft. 

IS'o  reports  have  been  received  i'rom  the  remaining  dis- 
tricts. 

For  thrcc-f|uarter8  of  a  century  Minnesota  has  been  the 
seat  of  a  llourishing  fur  trade,  and  though  the  ex])ulsion  and 
i-emoval  of  two  of  the  Indian  tribes  from  our  midst,  and  the 
extension  of  settlenutnt  and  civili/x'd  industry  over  their  an- 
cient hunting  grounds,  have  greatly  curtailed  the  sources  of 
local  BU])])Iy,  a  considerable  trade  has  of  late  years  sprung 
\i\)  with  the  Hudson  I'ay  Company's  settlements  beyond 
our  Morthwestern  border,  the  receij^ts  vi'  ]ieltries  froni  all 
sources  during  the  past  year  being  estimated  at  $;]0(>,00(». 

In  gen(>ral,  it  may  be  said,  that  notwithstanding  slight 
cliecks  arising  from  temporary  and  accidental  causes,  and  the 
public  burdens  and  private   sorrows  which   the  war  intiicts 


GOVERTS'OIl'S   MESSAGE.  6 

upon  all,  at  no  previous  period  of  our  history,  has  a  more 
prosperous  activity  pervaded  all  departments  of  industry,  or 
have  the  comforts  of  life  been  more  generally  difl'used  among 
all  classes  of  our  population. 

This  general  prosperity  has  given  a  new  impetus  to  our 
railroad  enterprises,  while  the  failure  of  navigation  in  our 
large  rivers  has  dcvch,)pcd  a  new  necessity,  and  furnished 
a  powerful  argument,  apprcciiihlo  by  every  citizen,  for  their 
speedy  completion.  1  am  liapi)yto  note  the  satisfactory  pro- 
gress in  construction  of  some  of  our  principal  Land  Grant 
lilies,  notwithstanding  tlie  scarcity  and  high  price  of  labor. 
The  St.  Paul  and  Taci tic  Railroad  is  now  complcted,and  the 
cars  are  now  running  from  St.  Paul  to  Anoka,  a  distance 
of  twenty-seven  and  a  half  miles,  and  is  graded  for  thirty- 
six  miles  further,  while  the  iron,  I  am  assured,  has  been 
purchased  to  complete  the  track  to  Watab,  eighty  miles  from 
St.- Paul,  by  the  first  of  next  ilugust. 

The  Winona  and  St.  Peter  Railroad  is  completed  and  in 
operation  from  AVinona  to  St.  Charles,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
nine  miles,  comprising  all  the  lieavy  and  xorj  expensive 
work  between  the  Mississippi  and  Minnesota  rivers,  and  is 
graded  for  thirty  i.  .iles  farther.  The  iron  is  said  to  have 
been  purchased  and  pre])arations  made  to  complete  the  road 
to  Kochester,  a  distance  of  forty-nine  miles  from  AVinona,  by 
the  fourth  of  July,  l>'<il. 

The  JNIinneapolis  and  Cedar  -V  alley  K.joad  has  been 
graded  from  Meiidola  to  Xorlhiield.  An  expcni-ive  bridge 
across  the  JMinnesota  is  in  ]<rf.ce!^s  of  constrnction.  Ties, 
iron  and  rolling  stock  are  reported  to  have  iK'cn  purcliar-ed, 
suhicient  t(^  ecjnid  the  road  from  Minneapolis  to  its  junction 
with  the  AVinona  and  Sr.  i'eter  roud  at  Owatonna,  and  it  is 
coniidontly  expected  that  the  road  will  bo  ready  for  business 
from  Minneapolis  to  Faribault  by  next  antumn.  Arrange- 
ments have  also  been  made  Mhich  ensure  the  building  at 
the  same  time,  of  a  bi'aneh  from  Meudota  to  St.  Paul. 

Jftheso  enterpri.-.es  continue  to  be  prosecuted  with  the 
vigor  which  hi-  marked  their  rociit  ]>rogresp,  the  expecta- 
tion may  be  reasonai)ly  indulged,  that  l>y  the  middle  of  next 


i 


'  ■■■ ': 


■■'"iil 


'till 

m 


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.1"  'iil 


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6 


GOVEr.NOR's   MESSAGE. 


year  the  cars  will  be  running  continuously  from,St.  Cloud, 
at  the  outpost  of  our  Nortli--\vestern  settlements,  through 
the  heart  of  the  State  to  Winona,  a  distance  of  nearly  two 
hundred  and  thirty  niilo?,  and  supplying  a  reliable  and 
much  needed  means  of  communication  with  Eastern  mar- 
kets. 

The  main  line  of  the  St.  Tanl  and  Tacitic  Kailroad  from 
Minnca])olis  AVes^tward,  is  as  yet  unimproved.  The  remain- 
ing Land  (irant  line^  continue  in  the  condition  in  which 
over  three  years  ago  they  passed  by  foreclosure  into  the 
hands  of  the  State. 

At  the  last  session,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  making 
a  valuable  grant  of  Swamp  lands  to  aid  tlie  St.  Paul  and 
Pacilic  Company  in  building  a  branch  of  tlieir  road  from  St. 
Paul  to  Winona,  along  the  Mis;;issi))pi  river.  The  Compa- 
ny has  accepted  the  grant  on  the  conditions  named,  has 
caused  the  route  to  lie  surveyed,  and  hopes  are  enlertaiiied 
that  its  constructi<.>n  will  eoiinnenee  lu^xt  sj^iing. 

The  Lake  Superior  Oc  Sli^si-ssippi  Kailroad  Company,  to 
which  the  State  made  a  similar  conditional  donation  of 
swamp  lands,  ha.s  recently  received  an  additional  induce- 
ment to  prosecntt!  tlie  work  <tn  tliis  rctad  in  l!ie  })le,dge  of  a 
bonus  of  8250,000  by  the  city  of  St.  Paul,  upon  tlie  com- 
pletion of  the  roatl,  williin  live  yearr;,  from  St.  Paul  to  the 
head  of  Lake  Sujicrior.  An  ordinance  of  the  City  Council 
to  that  eli'ect  has  been  ratified  by  a  ])Oj)ular  vote,  and  now 
only  awaits  the  t-anction  of  the  Legislature  to  give  it  va- 
lidity. 

Leaving  the  last  mentioned  road  <.nt  of  view,  and  except- 
ing the  AVinona  iSj  St.  I'eter  road,  all  our  great  ])rojected 
land  grant  lines,  ti\  e  in  number,  trfiversing  the  State  in  as 
many  diJl'orent  directions,  wiih  an  aggregate  length  when 
completed,  of  ovcu-  1,'HiO  miles,  and  roi^ting  on  land  grants 
amountinj:;  to  nearly  4,000, nOO  acres,  have  a  common  centre 


» 


of  r'-invergenee  near  where  the  Miimesota  joins  its  Ciirrent 
to  that  of  thti  Mi!-sissi})j)i,  making  it  the  locus  of  seven  great 
interior  tran>it  lines.  J  venture  to  dire(;t  your  attention  to 
this  prominent  leature   of  our  railroad    system,    because   it 


to 


goveknor's  message.  Y 

seema  to  me  that  sufticicnt  consi'lemtiori  has  not  been  o-iven 
to  the  ftiet,  that  a  single  raUroad  I-IO  mile-i  (one  from  this 
focal  point  (the  particular  locality  is  of  little  importance,)  to 
Lake  Superior,  would  furnish  an  outlet  for  our  whole  sys- 
tem of  natural  and  artificial  communications  upon  lake  nav- 
igation, at  a  distance  and  cost  of  transit  much  less,  for  three 
quarters  of  our  agricultural  area,  than  l)y  the  routes  termi- 
nating on  Lake  Michigan. 

The  immense  advantages  oi  such  an  outlet  W0(dd  be  felt  to 
the  farthcrest  extremities  ol'  our  railroad  system,  through 
the  whole  circle  of  trade  and  industry,  reducing  the  cost  of 
imported  commodiiies,  raising  the  value  ot  our  grain  and 
other  products  to  the  standard  of  Illinois,  and  virtually 
placing -Minnesota  u]>on  the  same  commercial  ground  with 
that  State,  ms  respects  the  cost  of  transportation  from  and  to 
the  Atlantic  seaboard.  It  would,  besides,  form  a  powerful 
inducement  to  the  early  construction  c»f  the  Minnesota  Val- 
ley llailroad,  the  main  commercial  value  of  which  depends 
upon  a  connection  with  Lake  Superior.  But  its  relations  to 
the  great  plan  of  Pacific  communications  marked  out  by 
Congress,  and  now  in  rapid  \)rogress  of  construction,  gives 
this  subject  a  new  importance.  Uy  the  llth  Section  of  an 
Act  of  Congress,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  aid  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  llailroad  and  Telegraph  line  from  the  Missouri 
River  to  the  Pacitlc  Ocean,  and  to  secure  to  the  Govern- 
ment the  use  of  the  same,  fur  Postal,  Military  and  other 
purposes,"  it  is  provided  that  wheiiever  a  railroad  shall  be 
built  through  j\I?nne3ota  or  Iowa  to  Sioux  City,  the  Union 
Pacilic  Railroad  Company  are  autliori^^ed  aufl  required  to 
construct  a  branch  line  from  their  road  to  connect  therewith. 
The  building  of  a  railroad  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Mis- 
sisBi])pi,  and  its  continuation  through  the  Minnesota  Valley 
to  Sioux  City,  would  I'ullil  the  condition  precedent,  and  give 
the  immense  commerce  w'lucli  is  destined  to  flow  overland 
between  the  two  oceans,  a  path  \o  ship  navigation  a  hundred 
and  thirty  miles  shorter  than  by  any  ])ossible  route  to  Lake 
Michigan.  This  large  reduction  of  land  transit  would  un- 
questionably divert  a  considerable  of  this  trans-continental 


t 


,  1-' 


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■  ■  Ife 


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i: 


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8  governor's  message. 

traffic  from  the  <xront  central  routes  tliroiigli  Minnesota  and 
enrich  our  State  with  the  commoreo  of  two  workls.  Thus 
by  a  connection  wiih  Liilcc  Superior,  another  powerful  in- 
ducement is  o-lvon  to  the  construction  of  tlie  Minnesota  Val- 
ley lino,  not  only  as  an  avenue  of  local  trade,  but  as  an  in- 
termediate link  in  the  great  chain  of  r.icllic  and  Atlantic 
communication. 

The  aid  of  CoiiL'ress  and  the  countenance  of  the  Lcirisla- 
ture,  will  ujidoubtedly  bo  requircil  to  complete  the  work 
assi,<2;ned  to  Minnesota  in  this  continental  prot^ramme,  and  I 
am  confident  tli:it  whatever  safe  and  prudent  leij^islation  or 
moral  support  in  C'un2:re=is  may  be  required  to  promote  these 
imjiortant  objects,  will  bo  cheerfully  graiited.  It  will  bo  a 
Avondcrful  witness  to  tiie  world  abroad  and  to  future  a^-es,  of 
the  protligions  oner^-ies  fo'^tered  by  the  free  institutio'ih  of 
this  jj:reat  American  .Hepablic,  if  while  on;^aged  with  one 
hand  in  suppressing^  the  mi^-htiest  rebellion  that  over  con- 
vulsed a  luition,  or  menaced  civilization,  it  shall  push  for- 
ward this  stupenduous  project  of  a  racilic  railroad  to  com- 
pletion, and  (.'rect  The  grandest  monument  of  peaceful  indus- 
try upon  earth,  amid  the  clangor  and  havoc  of  the  world's 
crreatest  civil  vv'ar.  Let  us  hone  that  Minnesota  which  has 
sustained  so  glorious  a  shai'O  in  the  vi^'toi'ies  of  the  battle 
field,  nuiy  bear  no  ignoble  part  in  this  enduring  and  more 
beneficent  conquest  of  peace. 

Within  two  years  new  gold  fields  oi'  sur])assing  richness 
have  been  develu[)ed  on  the  eiustorn  slopes  of  tlie  Rocky 
Mountains  iu  the  hitiliule  «-'f  Alinnesota,  which  may  be 
reached  within  six  Imndi'od  miles  of  our  western  boundaiy. 
ilocent  explorations  by  citizens  of  this  State,  under  tiie  com- 
mand of  Ca]»t,  James  L.  Fisk,  by  authority  of  government, 
have  demonstrated  the  great  superiority  of  this  Minnesota 
route  to  the  nev/  FlL>orii<lo  in  other  respects,  scarcely  less 
important  than  distanc  ■ :  ii'M  if  it  could  be  made  safe  from 
host'le  IniliiiTis,  uiuvli  <'i' the  innaense  emigration  to  those 
mines  with  the  !)nsiin.'SS  it  creati^s,  would  und*)ubtedly  flow 
through  this  State.  I  wouUl  therefore,  recommend  that 
Couiiress  be  memorial i/ed  tu    establish  a  chain  of  mihtary 


govbrnob's  message. 


9 


M 


poBtB,  and  provide  escorts  for  eniigrants  over  this  line,  and 
also  for  a  grant  of  lands  to  extend  the  Winona  and  St.  Pe- 
ter Kailroad,  and  the  St.  Paul  and  Pacific  main  line  to 
Idaho. 

The  last  Legislature  passed  an  act  in  accordance  with  the 
authority  of  Congress  empowering  the  St.  Paul  and  Pacific 
Railroad  Company  to  use  a  certain  portion  of  their  land 
grant  in  building  a  railroad  from  St.  Cloud  to  Lake  Superior. 
The  Company  did  not  accept  the  transfer,  and  the  hope  of 
opening  a  direct  communication  between  the  upper  Missis- 
sippi Valley  and  Lake  Superior  is  thus  postponed.  Such 
an  outlet  is  of  great  importance  to  tlie  development  of  that 
region,  and  as  it  is  now  the  established  policy  of  Congress 
to  use  the  public  lands  to  promote  the  settlement  and  im- 
provement of  the  country,  I  would  call  your  attention  to  the 
propriety  of  asking  that  body  for  a  grant  of  lands  for  a  rail- 
road from  the  Upper  Mississippi  to  Lake  Superior. 

I  have  dwelt  thus  at  length  u\)(m  these  topics,  because  I 
am  deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  the  future  ex- 
pansion of  the  population  and  wealth  of  this  State  depends 
upon  the  extension  of  railroads  into  our  rich  interior  dis- 
tricts. The  speedy  development  of  our  railroad  system  will 
be  our  strongest  and  most  cordial  invitation  to  the  thousands 
of  emigrants  who  are  flocking  to  our  shores  from  the  old 
world,  and  if,  when  peace  shall  be  restore<l  and  our  armies 
disbanded,  these  avenues  to  market  shall  be  opened  from 
our  wild  and  unoccupied  lands,  we  may  reasonably  hope 
that  tens  of  thousands  of  the  brave  men  whose  liei'oic  devo- 
tion shall  have  secured  the  final  triumph  of  freedom,  will  sit 
down  to  enjoy  its  fruits  with  their  families  in  the  Free 
Homesteads  which  the  munificence  of  oui- government  oflors 
to  all  who  will  accept  the  boon,  throui^hout  more  than  forty 
millions  of  acres  of  our  wide  and  fertile  domain. 

The  extent  to  which,  in  spite  of  the  drawbacks  of  the  times, 
settlements  have  already  been  made  in  our  State  under  the 
Free  Homestead  Law,  is  an  encourai;ing  augury  of  the  bene- 
fits that  will  be  realized  from  it  under  more  auspicious  cir- 
cumstanccs.  In  response  to  inquiries  upon  this  subject  the 
2 


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10 


GOVERNORS   MESSAGE. 


Registers  of  the  Land  Offices  in  five  of  the  districts  have 
furnished  me  with  the  following  statistics  : 

In  the  Minneapolis  Land  District,  510  entries 
have  been  made  under  the  Homestead  Law, 


eovermg 


In  the  Winnebago  City   Land    District,  1,270 
entries  have  been  niiidc,  covering 

In  the  St,  Teter  Land   District,    1,*J.')1  entries 
have  been  made,  covering 

In  the  Taylor  8  Falls  Land    Districr,   100   en- 
tries have  been  made,  covering 

In  the  St.  Cloud  Laiul    District,  405   entries 
have  been  made,  covering 


Acres. 
49,2U1 

180,000 


145,800 


13,8e5 


74,400 


403,296 


Total  number  of  entries,  3,570,  covering- 
More  than  half  of  the  entries  arc  Cbtimated  to  have  been 
made  by  new  comers. 

The  reports  of  the  various  departments  alford  a  gratify- 
ing evidence  of  the  industry,  iidelity  and  success,  witli  which 
tlie  largely  increased  and  complicated  business  of  the  sever- 
al ofhces  has  been  transacted. 

The  condition  of  the  Treasury  was  never  more  satisfactory 
than  now. 

The  receipts*  from  all  sources  for  the  hscal  year  ending  No- 
vember 30,  LS03,  were  as  fallows: 

For  State  Ilevenuo  Fund  on  jiroperty  tax, 

The  State  lU'veuue  Fund  by  poll  tux. 

For  State  Intere>;t  Fuml, 

For  I'liited  States  war  tax, 

For  Permanent  School  Fund, 

I'or  (ieneral  Sehoiil   |'\iii»l, 

I'roceeds  of  War  Loan,  tiuth<»rizetl    by    act  (»f 

September  27,  1*^02, 
From  TI.  S.  in  [tartial  [jayment of  Sioux  War 

claims,    .  -  .  -  - 

From  miscellaneous  sources,  - 
From  balance  in  the  Treasury,  Dec.  J,  1SU2, 


5^112,059  50 

12,otiL  80 

52,140  01 

2«;,:J55  15 

ii;;.«i78  50 

35,379  78 

101,250  00 

200,000  00 

5,475  12 

30,555  87 


The  total  disbursements  have  been, 


!?G;';.,8tl4  85 
570,539  32 


Leaving  a  balance  in  the  Treasury,  Dec,l,  1803,  $119,325  52 


governor's  message. 


11 


The  disbursements  of  this  balance  under  difierent  heads 
have  already  been  made  or  provided  for,  except  $3i,Y20  46 
of  the  United  States  War  Fund,  which  is  now  subject  to  the 
disposal  of  the  Legislature. 

The  total  expenses  of  the  last  year  were  $128,441  03 

The  estimated  expenses  for  the  current  year  are  $107,800  00 
While  the  balance  in  the  Treasury  is  much  larger  than  at 
the  close  of  any  previous  fiscal  year,  the  taxes  collected  have 
largely  increased,  and  at  the  same  time  there  has  been  a 
corresponding  reduction  in  the  amount  of  our  floating  in- 
debtedness. A  comparative  exhibit  of  the  several  years 
since  1800,  under  their  dill'ercnt  heads,  is  the  most  flattering 
tribute  which  can  be  paid  to  the  skill  and  prudence  which 
have  marked  the  ac'ii-unistratiou  of  State  Finances. 


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K  Balance  in  Troasury. 

FloiitiiifT  Debt. 

Taxes  Collected. 

1860,          $  675  78 

$  {>S,(j-3(j  55 

%  111,918  58 

1861,            4,729  42 

66,682  47 

100,186  83 

1862,           36,555  87 

65,100  48 

133,001  71 

186a,        119,325  53 

59,202  42 

177,170  43 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  taxable  basis  of  1803, 
was  diminished  about  twenty-live  per  cent,  below  that  of 
previous  years,  or  from  over  thirty-nine  millions  in  1861,  to 
less  than  tliirty-milli(»n3  in  1863,  the  large  increase  in  the 
amount  of  taxes  received  during  tlie  past  year,  and  the  nour- 
ishing condition  of  the  Treasury,  are  certainly  matters  of 
agreeable  and  hopeful  congratnhitit>n.  Although  the  tem- 
porary contraction  of  the  taxable  basis  without  any  corres- 
poiiiiing  increase  in  tiiu  tax  rati',  had  the  good  elt'cet  of 
compelling  t  le  collectuui  of  the  delinquent  tax,  and  of 
largely  increasing  the  receipts  from  that  source,  I  would 
neverlheiews  ask  you  to  consider  whether  some  means  can- 
not be  de vised  to  correct  the  I'alse  standard  of  valuation 
which  has  been  ado])le(l  throughout  the  State,  and  which  it 


is  notorious,  docs  not  by  any  means  reiircscnt  the  actual 
value  of  the  jiroperty  assessed.  <  )iherwise  the  arbitrary  re« 
duction  of  valuations  which  has  Ix.'en  resorted  to   by  difler- 


m 

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12 


GOVERNORS    MESSAGE. 


i 

ti 


ent  counties  to  diininiBli  their  respective  shares  of  the  gene- 
ral tax,  will  compel  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  tax 
levies,  and  thus  bring  upon  tlie  State  the  double  odium  of  an 
apparent  depreciation  of  its  taxable  property,  and  an  exor- 
bitant rate  of  taxutlon-. 

I  would  suggest  whether  some  amendment  in  the  law  reg- 
ulating the  e(|ualizati()n  of  taxes  might  not  be  made,  so  as 
to  allow  the  State  Boiird  of  Eciualization  to  correct  mani- 
festly erroneous  valuations  of  personal  property,  which,  it  is 
notorious,  evades  its  share  of  taxation,  and  throws  unjust 
burdens  npt>n  the  owners  of  real  estate. 

Tlu!  amount  of  Trea^;llry  scrip  outstanding,  December  1, 
1S62,  was  $55,018  08;  on  December  1,  1863,  $45,339  59; 
showing  a  reduction  of  over  ten  tliousand  dollars  in  that 
portion  of  our  iloating  indebtedness.  The  existence  of  this 
debt,  amounting  in  all  to  $59,  202  42,  which  consists  of  the 
uii])aid  Treasury  warrants  issued  for  the  current  expenses 
of  tiio  State  Government,  and  the  estimated  defic'encies  for 
which  no  a]»propriation  has  been  made,  is  a  blot  upon  our 
liuancial  credit  which  no  ellbrts  should  be  spared  to  remove. 

For  this  ])m*iio8o,  the  Treasurer  suggests  the  reduction  of 
the  iiitorest  tax  from  two  mills  to  one  mill  on  the  dollar,  and 
and  that  tin.'  dill'ereiice  be  added  to  the  revenue  tax. 

The  shortening  of  your  Hcssion  would  also  aid  inetfecting 
the  object  by  about  $2/Hio  p^r  week. 

In  additiou  to  this,  I  would  recommend  more  stringent 
j)roviHions  f  •!•  the  collection  of  the  ])oll  tax,  which  from  tho 
failure  of  town  treasurers  to  eomply  with  the  law,  has  this 
year  produced  scarcely  more  than  a  third  of  the  amount  duo 
tVom  thli^  souice. 

These  measures,  while  adding  nothing  to  the  ])rcBent  ag- 
gregatt'  taxrato,  will  without  doubt,  furnish  ample  resources 

'      "  iL'  debt,  a 


V 


O) 


|>uttiiig  an  end  to 


the  shanieful  necesyity  of  iKRuing  depreciated  Hcrip  for  tho 
current  expennes  of  tho  State  (Government,  and  thus  taxing 
the  meagre  salaries  of  the  Slate  ollicers  to  cover  the  deiicit 
ill  the  Treasury. 

Your  attention  is  also  rospoctfully  called  to  the  necessity 


» 


goveisnor's  message. 


13 


of  pro  nng  moans  for  meeting  the  principal  of  the  eight 
per  cent.  State  Bonds  for  the  $250,000  loan  which  will  be- 
come  due  in  July,  1867,  as  well  as  to  the  recommendation 
of  the  State  Auditor  iu  his  report,  that  a  Sinking  Fund  be 
created  for  this  purpose.  And  for  detailed  information  in 
regard  to  the  different  funds  and  the  manner  of  their  invest- 
mentj'the  estimates  of  the  disbursements  for  the  current  year, 
banks  and  all  the  various  financial  interests  of  the  State,  I 
take  pleasure  in  referring  you  to  the  full  and  satisfactory 
Annual  Reports  of  the  Auditor  and  Treasurer  of  State, 
which  will  be  laid  before  you. 

The  Land  DG]mrtment  was  established  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  in  1862,  and  its  opeavtions  has  since  been  chiefly 
confined  to  the  disposition  of  the  School  Lands  under  the 
wise  and  conservative  regulations  adopted  by  your  predeces- 
sors. The  wisdom  of  tliat  i»olioy,  which  has  been  ably  sec- 
onded by  the  officer  having  in  charge  its  practical  applica- 
tion, lias  been  ably  demonstrated  by  its  results. 

The  first  sales  of  School  Lands  were  made  in  the  fall  of 
1862,  and  have  been  continued  the  present  year  with  the  fol- 


lowing results 


Number  of  acres  of  School  Lands  in  the  coun- 
ties in  which  sales  have  been  hud, 
Number  of  acres  sold  up  to  date, 


350,325.43 
90,440.14 


Number  of  acres  remaining   unsold   in   the 

alxive  counties,        -  -  2r»0,895.99 

Amount  realized  from  the  lands  sold,  -    $552,309  06 


Cf 


^  ■  fi 


'  .1. 


(."I'l 


The  average  price  of  the  lands  sold  was  ^6  10  per  acre. 
If  the  residue  of  the  School  Lands  in  the  counties  where 
the  sales  have  been  had,  should  sell,  as  they  probably  will, 
at  the  same  rate,  tlu^  aggiogato  pnulnct  would  be  $2,137,- 
051,  and  the  whole  b(»(ly  of  the  School  Lands  at  the  same 
rate  would  produce  a  ])onMant'iit  I'nml  of  about  $16,000,000, 
which  at  seven  jier  cent,  interest  would  yield  an  annual  in- 
come of  $1,120,000,  a  sum  sufiicicnt  to  nmintain  a  system 


14 


goveenor's  message. 


of  pnblic  schools  at  the  high  educational  standard  of  Mass- 
achusetts for  a  population  of  nearly  a  million  souls.  And 
it  may  be  safely  assumed  that  sales  will  proceed  at  this  rate 
as  rapidly  as  the  increase  of  the  population  shall  require  an 
increase  of  the  school  fund,  for  as  the  growth  of  population 
creates  a  demand  for  new  schools,  the  value  of  the  school 
lands  will  he  developed  by  the  same  causes,  in  nearly  the 
same  proportion. 

The  sum  realized  from  the  two  mill  tax  for  the  support  of 
schools,  is  about  $4:5,<*uO,  Tliis.tax  might  be  profitably  re- 
duced, as  before  suggestod,  in  proportion  to  the  income  re- 
realized  from  the  scliool  fund,  and  in  a  few  years  it  may  be 
reasonably  hoped,  that  tlie  revenue  derived  from  this  source 
will  bo  sutlleient  to  entirely  olwiate  the  necessity  of  impos- 
ing a  school  tax. 

In  this,  as  in  other  States,  imj)ortant  and  interesting  ques- 
tions between  the  State  and  tlie  jS"ational  Government  have 
arisen,  a  decision  of  which  in  favor  of  the  State  will  greatly 
enhance  the  value  of  this  ali'cady  extensive  source  of  reve- 
nue. Of  these  the  most  promintmt  are  the  controversy  re- 
o-ardln"  school  sections  on  the  Winnchiigo  Reservation,  the 
Sioux  Half  Breed  Tract,  and  the  (xmtest  now  pending  in 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  rnited  States,  as  to  the  validity 
of  the  joint  resolutions  of  Congress,  of  March  8d,  1857, 
allowing  pre-emptions  upon  school  lands  Ijy  persons  settling 
thereon  prior  to  the  survey. 

The  questions  involved  in  eacli  ot  these  controversies  all 
deix'nd  more  or  less  directly  ujimh  the  constructi<m  of  the 
or"-anicact  of  the  Territory  of  l!S4!),  the  State  claiming  that 
by  virtue  of  Section  ir»,of  that  Act,  all  school  sections  within 
the  territorial  limits  were  solmeidy  set  apart  and  dedicated 
by  Congress  to  a  pulilic  charity,  and  that  such  dedication 
operated  to  dc))rive  Congre-s  of  all  further  power  of  dis- 
position over  them.  IVohal.ly  the  ])ros|)eetive  heiu'lit  to  the 
State  resulting  from  a  fav(»ral)lo  decision  upon  these  points, 
may  be  e-timnted  at  several  hundred  thousand  dollars,  as  the 
paltry  right  to  t^elect  other  lands  in  the  uninhahited  regions 
beyond  the  frontier,  in  place  of  the.  fertile  tracts  upon  the 


< 

1 


GOVERNOR  B  MESSAGE. 


15 


Winnebago  reservation  which  has  long  been  justly  regarded 
as  one  or  the  gardens  of  the  State,  or  of  the  valuable  sec- 
tions in  the  vicinity  of  our  largest  cities,  towns  and  villages, 
many  of  which  have  been  obtained  by  pre-emptions  of  doubt- 
ful faith,  and  sometimes  notoriously  fraudulent,  can  but 
poorly  compensate  her  for  the  loss  she  must  sustain  by  an 
adverse  decision. 

In  this  connection,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
imperative  necessity  for  some  more  adequate  provision  for 
the  protection  of  the  public  lands  menaced  by  pre-emptions, 
than  any  now  existing.  For  more  minute  iulbrmatiou  upon 
these  interestiTig  subjects,  I  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  the 
Auditor  and  Attorney  General.  It  is  only  necessary  to  add 
upon  this  subject  that  the  most  important  hnancial  interest 
of  the  State  is  involved  in  tlie  public  lands,  and  no  subject 
is  more  worthy,  or  more  imperatively  demands  the  thought- 
ful consideration  of  the  Legislature. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  sagacious  policy 
which  has  been  observed  in  the  disposition  of  the  school 
lands,  had  not  ci»ntrullcd  the  niauagenicut  of  the  University 
reserves.  To  devise  and  adopt  sumo  plan  hy  which  this 
nninificent  endowment  can  be  extricated  from  its  embar- 
rassments, and  saved  to  the  grand  cause  for  which  it  was  de- 
signed, is  a  sul)ject  worthy  of  your  must  j)rofound  contem- 
plation, and  demanding  the  exercise  of  your  best  iinaucial 
ability.  Whether  the  iStato  h\  or  is  not,  liable  lor  that  por- 
tion of  the  debts  of  the  University  creatjd  by  Legislative 
authority,  it  is  a  matttw  for  your  considcnUion,  whether  it 
would  not  1)0  a  measure  ot  fround  ami  lionoral)le  policy  for 
it  to  provide  for  tlu'ir  payment  hy  an  arrangement  with  the 
creditors  whicli  shall  place  the  University  lands  in  the  hands 
of  the  State,  free  from  encumbrance.  These  lands  amount 
to  40,080  acres,  selected  in  choice  localities,  and  may  bo 
presumed  to  be  far  more  valuable  than  the  school  lands, 
about  which  no  choice  can  be  exercised.  Yet  at  the  average 
price  at  which  the  latter  liave  hcen  sold,  they  would  bo 
worth  $281,088,  a  Rum  sulUcient  not  only  to  i)ay  the  debt 
which  now  hangs  like  auincubus  upon  this  noble  foundation, 


1. » 


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16 


GOVERNORS   MESSAGE. 


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ii|i' 


m 


■Sv 


but  constitute  an  ample  fund  for  the  support  of  the  institu- 
tion for  years  to  come. 

Coinciding  fully  in  the  opinion,  that  by  the  5th  Section  of 
the  Enabling  Act  of  Congress,  passed  February  26th,  18.')7, 
the  Governor  of  this  State  is  authorized  to  select  seventy- 
two  additional  sections  ol  land  from  the  public  domain  to  be 
set  apart  for  the  use  and  support  of  a  State  University,  I 
have  appointed  an  agent  to  report  to  me  or  my  successor  in 
office,  after  proper  survey  and  examination,  a  description  of 
such  lands  as  he  may  deem  most  suitable  and  valuable  for 
the  purpose. 

By  this  course,  the  right  of  the  State  to  these  lands  will 
be  brought  up  for  adjudication,  should  tliere  be  any  doubt 
or  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  general  Land  Department 
as  to  admitting  a  claim  so  evidently  just.  These  lands  when 
selected  and  entered,  will,  by  judicious  management  create 
an  ample  fund  for  the  support  of  the  University,  which  1 
contidently  trust  is  destined  to  outlive  all  its  difficulties,  and 
prove  of  incalculable  value  to  the  youth  of  the  State  already 
waiting  to  crowd  its  halls. 

I  know  of  no  methotl  for  relief  so  beneficial  to  the  Uni- 
versity, or  so  hopeful  to  its  creditors  as  the  transfer  of  its 
lands  to  the  supervision  of  the  State  Land  Department,  to 
be  disposed  of  on  principles  similar  to  those  wliich  regulate 
the  school  land  interests. 

By  placing  the  University  upon  a  sound  iinancial  footing, 
the  Legislature  will  Ijc  enabled  to  give  a  i)ractical  develop- 
ment to  the  institution.  A.11  the  iiigher  interests  of  educa- 
tion, which  coniprohcnd  the  nol)k'st  iind  most  benlficcnt  ob- 
jects of  govornniont,  re<]uire  that  tlio  University  should  be 
exaltt'd  to  its  proper  jiosition  at  tho  lu-ad  of  the  splendid 
educational  system  whose  broad  l'oundati(»n  rests  on  our  mag- 
nilicent  school  reservation. 

I  submit  to  your  consi«lerati(tn  whether  the  time  has  not 
arrived  for  devoting  the  fine  University  V)uilding  at  St.  An- 
tliony  to  the  obJL'ct  for  which  it  was  designed.  In  the  years 
which  have  elajiHed  since  the  edilice  was  erected,  the  chil- 
dr(!n  who  were  receiving  the  ruiliiiients  of  education  in  our 


I'i^ 


m 


institu- 
jtion  of 

,  18:>7, 

Bveuty- 
in  to  be 
•sity,  I 
088or  iu 
ption  of 
ible  for 

ids  will 
y  doubt 
avtment 
ds  when 
t  create 
whicli  I 
ties,  and 
i  already 

the  Uni- 
er  of  its 
ment,  to 
regulate 

I  footing, 
dovelop- 
if  educa- 
[iccnt  ob- 
lould    be 
splendid 
our  mag- 
ic has  not 
it  St.  An- 
tho  years 
,  tlic  chil- 
on  in  our 


governor's  message. 


17 


common  schools  have  passed  to  an  age  when  a  hi-'her  train- 
ing, and  riper  culture,  are  necessary  to  lit  them  for  the  vo- 
cations of  approaching  manhood.  Every  year  is  sweUino- 
this  class  of  young  m(>n.  A  comparatively  small  expendi- 
ture would  place  within  tlieii'  reach  the  means  of  a  college 
education,  and  ht  the  choicest  spirits  of  our  rising  genera- 
tion for  the  most  exalted  positions  which  duty  or  ambition 
may  assign  them,  in  wctrking  out  the  destiny  and  establisli- 
inj'  the  ^'veatnes^  of  our  ^tato. 

The  Normal  School  at  "Winona  has  proved  an  efficient 
means  of  elevating  the  standard  of  qualification  for  the 
teacher's  profession,  and  thus  exercises  an  important  inliii- 
ence  in  improving  the  character  of  our  comn]on  schools. 
You  can  devote  yr)ur  energies  nnd  make  r-.ppropriations  of 
money  to  no  more  economical  nor  loftier  purpot^e  than  the 
promotion  of  jiopular  education,  without  which  all  your 
railro;ids,  your  commercinl  and  material  pro-jperity,  are  of  no 
avail  in  building  up  a  State.  Tl'.e  api)ropriation  necessary 
for  the  support  of  this  institution  on  a  Hbcral  scale  could 
not  be  more  profitably  expendeil. 

The  re})ort  of  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 
embraces  the  first  exhil:>it  at  all  approaching  to  com]>leto- 
nes^%  of  tlio  conditio!)  of  our  Common  Schools.  Of  1,685 
Echotil  districtn,  1,254  send  tolerably  full  reports,  showing 
tluit  of  05,508  persons  between  five  ami  twenty-one  yoarp  of 
ii"-o,  38,2?>1  attended  school  Avithin  the  year,  while  the  ave- 
rage  (hilly  atlentlance  is  22,9.71.  TIjo  vidue  of  school  houses 
h^  |l('.0,r.!)l,  {iud  the  whole  amount  reported  to  have  been 
receivv'd  for  the  use  of  schools  is  i^llO.Ul-. 

The  Superintendent,  suggests  a  variety  of  modifications 
of  the  existing  school  law,  which,  as  they  concur  tceneially 
M'irli  iiiy  own  views,  1  recojumend  to  your  favorable  consid- 
cranon. 

13y  an  act  of  the  last  Legislative  session  $1,500  was  ap- 
propriated fov  the  orgimi-^ition  and  support  of  a  school  at 
Faribault  for  deaf  mutes  and  blind  persons.  The  Connnis- 
hioners  report  that  the  school  was  accordingly  opened  la^t 
Septomber,  but  tor  mutes  ulono  for  want  of  a  sutlicient  ap- 


'  1 ' 


I 


-  ■!!■ 

•H 

W 

1        ■'!. 

'  1  * 

M 

m 


1  ■  .  f  I    ■ 

■•  '  [ 


t; 


'19 


m 


18 


G0VEKN0R8   MESS  AG  K, 


'  \' 


propriatioii,  in  a  building  hired  for  the  purpose,  under  the 
auspices  of  an  experienced  gentleman,  and  with  flattering 
promise  of  success.  The  care  and  education  of  this  unfor- 
tunate class  of  our  people,  is  a  sacred  trust  which  this  State 
will  never  hesitate  to  accept  and  discharge,  much  less  aban- 
don after  having  entered  upon  the  work.  The  amount  asked 
by  the  Commissioners  for  the  ensuing  year  is  $i,100,  which 
seemo  to  me  a  reasonable  estimate,  and  I  recommend  the 
approj)rirttiou. 

It  is  hardly  creditable  to  our  State  that  no  steps  have  yet 
been  taken  towards  establishing  an  asylum  for  the  indigent 
Insane,  and  that  we  are  dependent  upon  the  charity  of  a 
neighboring  State  for  i.ho  means  of  providing  temporary 
relief  for  a  limited  number  of  these  unlortunates.  We  aro 
also  warned  that  the  only  State  which  gave  a  favorable  re- 
sponse to  our  application  to  receive  the  Insane  of  this  State, 
will  soon  have  no  room  in  its  asylum  for  our  use,  so  that 
unless  you  make  some  provision  for  their  relief,  this  afflicted 
class  of  our  population,  demanding  your  warmest  sympathy 
and  tonderest  care,  will  be  loft  to  sutfer  on  miserably  and 
hopelessly.  It  is  high  time  that  Minnesota  should  take 
some  steps  dictated  by  Christian  civilisation  and  humanity 
towards  establishing,  building  up  and  fostering  such  asylums 
and  charitable  iiictitutioiis  as  are  the  ])ride  and  enduring 
glory  of  her  sister  Slates  of  this  Union, 

I  af-k  your  favorable  consideration  of  the  recommendation 
of  the  Auditor  of  Stares,  liiat  one  mill  of  Mio  tax  tor  school 
puriioses  sluudd  be  li'aiis'.'erred  tu  the  genoial  revenue  fund 
for  tlie  sujtport  of  the  insane,  and  the  blind,  and  deaf 
mutes. 

I  desire  here  to  add  m^  own  conrmendation  to  the  oft- 
repeated  inculcations  of  uiy  predecessor,  whose  unceasing 
d('\'otion  to  the  welfai'o  of  the  State,  and  vigilant  zeal  in 
establishing  and  upholding  its  titiancial  honor  and  credit,  as 
well  as  his  energetic  and  successful  labors  in  developing  and 
organi/iMg  the  ])atrIotism  of  our  people  on  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  made  his  adtninistration  an  era  in  our  history, 
and  to  urge  upon  the  Legi>^lature  the  policy  of  reservii'g  the 


governor's   ME8SA.GE. 


ler  the 
ttering 

untbr- 
B  State 
3  aban- 
b  asked 

which 
md  the 

ave  vet 

V 

idigent 
;y  of  a 
iporary 
We  are 
able  re- 
8  State, 
BO  that 
ftlHicted 
mpathy 
bly  and 
Id  take 
imanity 
asylums 
uduring 

indation 
r  school 
lue  fund 
nd  deaf 

>  the  oft- 
nceasing 

zeal  in 
•rcHJit,  as 
liii^  and 
Iviiii;  out 

history, 
•vii'g  the 


19 


swamp  lands  for  the  support  of  benevolent  institutions,  and 
resist  all  attempts  to  squander  them  on  enterprises,  which 
however  useful,  can  always  find  adequate  support  in  other 
directions. 

The  Reports  of  the  Warden  and  Inspectors  of  tlie  Stale 
Prison  give  a  satisfactory  exhibit  of  the  condition,  and  an 
assun  ice  of  the  excellent  management  of  that  institution- 
I  feel  it  my  duty  to  join  in  the  recommendation  of  the  In- 
spectors for  an  appropriation  sufficient  to  complete  the  cells 
in  the  new  building  erected  by  your  authority  last  summer. 
Conspicuous  among  the  luirbingoi's  of  rejoiciii'?.;s  which 
usher  in  the  new  year  is  the  improved  conditiuuoi'  our  fion- 
tier.  The  tempest  of  savage  violunco  wliich  Si'ViMitcen 
months  ago  burst  over  the  defenseless  settlements  of  our 
Western  border,  has  for  the  present,  and  it  is  to  bo  hoped 
permanently,  subsided. 

Though  the  expeditions  under  General  Sibley  and  Sulley 
failed,  partly  at  least  from  cansos  beyond   llieir  control,  to 
accomplish  all  the  results  wiiich  were   expected   from  the 
raagnitado  of  the  preparations,  or  to  inflict  upon  our  savage 
enemies  the  full  punishment   wliich  their   atr<>"ious  crimes 
deserve,  they  have  by  the  formidable  and  impobiug  anna- 
ment  which,  notwithstanding  unusual  and  almost   insur- 
mountable natural  ol)stacle8  pursued  tbeni  to  the  banks  of 
the  Missouri  river,  and  by  the  gallant  bearing  of  our  troops, 
who,  in  the  few  opportunities  ali'orded  them,  displayed  those 
qualities  of  valor  which  the  training  of  the  savage  teaches 
them  to  fear  and  respect,  at  least  been  taught  their  inability 
to  resist  the  power,  or  escape  tlie  slee[tle*s  vengeance  of  the 
Governmenf,  from  whose  armies  they  have  Hod   in  the  vain 
attempt  to  elude  the  consequences  of  their  unprovoked  cru- 
elties.    Hunger  and  destitution  have  followed  like  avenging 
angels  upon  the  track  of  the  fugitive  assassins  to  insure  the 
punishment  left  incomplete  by  the  forces  sent  uuc  against; 
them.     In  all  probability  many  of  them  will  pei-i^h  this  win- 
ter from  cold  and  starvation,  and  it  slioidd  not  bo  forgotten 
that,  under  the  circumstances,  the  distraction  of  huge  quan- 
tities ot  provisions  and  clothing  upon  which  they  had  relied 


W' 


';  ?iii! 


I'm 


\M 


20 


GOVERNOR  8    MESSAGE. 


for  theii-'winter'a  support  and  protccHon,  by  the  troops  under 
Generals  Sibley  und  SuUey,  must  be  re^^iiidoJ  us  nearcely 
less  futid  to  them,  than  the  more  sudden  and  sunj^uinary 
havoc  of  the  sword. 

Wiihinit  the  means  of  replenishing  their  exhausted  sup- 
plies of  ainmunititrn,  it  nuiy  be  presumed  that  they  are  in  no 
condition  to  reuew  the  war  in  force  upon  our  frontier  hctlle- 
ments  wliile  our  present  attitude  of  defense  is  maintained. 
But  tlu'i'e  ean  be  no  complete  security  for  our  border  po))U- 
iation  until  these  bands  of  ruurderers  ai'e  contiued  within 
limits  lendered  impassible  by  the  powerful  arm  of  our  Gov- 
ernmtnt,  or  extir}>al:ed  from  the  lace  of  the  earth. 

The  vigorous  prosecution  of  hostilities  agiiinsl  these  In- 
dians, is  as  indisjjenbabie  to  the  safet)'  of  our  i)order,  us  the 
nuiinlenaiice  of  a  strong  and  \igilaiit  defensive  guard  on  the 
lii!o  "f  outposts  iKuv  eiitablislicd  by  (he  iMlliauy  JJepart- 
lO'-sit  of  rhirt  District.  Experience  Iia.-;  uhv'.idy  taught  us 
thiit  tiie  veij  wrctcliednebs  of  their  condition,  bU})plit'S  them 
v.iili  nu/tives  stronger  even  than  the  isavnge  lust  of  revenge, 
fur  muiaading  incursions  upon  our  setilcme!j!,s  with  a  view 
to  phunlor  aud  munler.  Scarcely  had  the  Ibvcoj  of  the  ex- 
jjedltiuu  under  Gciieral  Siblo}"  been  w'iihdra.vii  iVom  our 
frontier  garrisons,  bulbre  a  sniall  band  of  Indians,  luunber- 
ing  lots  than  a  score,  led  by  Little  Crow,  advanced  sLealthily 
in:o  the  heart  of  our  settlements,  and  scattering  in  diii'ercnt 
diixciions,  began  a  series  of  bold  robberies  and  nmrdcrs 
which  continuetl  in  dilferent  loeulities  tlu'oughout  the  sum- 
im'r.  Secreting  ihemselves  in  the  woods  and  gi'utis,  their 
presence  was  only  revealed  in  the  neighborhood  they  visited 
by  suinehoriible  t.nitrage,  which  struck  nu)re  terror  by  the 
mystery  which  cnvelopetl  the  ])erpetrators  than  even  the 
brutal  atrocity  which  nuirked  the  deed.  The  secrecy  and 
>)Wiltnchb  which  el'.tnacterised  the  movements  of  thin  snuill 
band,  the  r.'[)idity  w  iih  which  their  bluws  succeeded  each 
ot!\ur  at  jxtints  far  apart,  in  a  measui'O  revived  the  panic 
which  had  ile])opulated  our  Western  counties  in  18G2.  The 
woods  and  prairies  north  ami  south  of  the  Minnesota  river 
seemed  alive  with  the  ambushed  assassins. 


I 


I 


•  1.1 


under 
urcely 
uin.'ivy 

(I  sup- 
■c  in  no 

bottle- 
tained. 
r  pupu- 

within 
ir  Gov- 

icso  In- 
,  us  tlio 
i  ijii  the 
Dcpiut- 
uii'ht  v,6 
i- )  them 

1  a  view 

tllU    C'X- 

luii  uiir 
lUiibur- 
catlhlly 
i  lie  rent 

he  suiii- 
.s,  their 
visited 
by  I  lie 

iven  tlie 
eey  and 
iri  bniall 

cd  each 

ho  puuic 

,2.     Tho 
ota  river 


y 


goveknor's  message. 


21 


Some  of  these  Indians  oven  made  their  appearance  with- 
in six  miles  of  St.  Paul.  The  nmuber  oftho.se  who  fell  vic- 
tims to  the  Indian  raid  of  ISOI],  did  not  exceed  twenty. 

All  eiibrts  of  the  military  ibrco  of  2,000  meii,  which 
guarded  our  extended  line  of  frontier  were  unavailing  to 
prevent  these  depredations.  The  prompt  and  vigorous  co- 
operation of  the  State  authorities  Avas  necessary  to  arrest  a 
eecond  depopulation  of  our  frontier  counties,  A  corps  of 
Statu  scouts  was  organized  to  track  these  savages  to  their 
hiding  places,  and  in  oi'dcr  to  enlist  the  injiabitants  of  the 
menaced  district  in  their  extirpation,  ariud  were  issued  to 
them,  and  a  reward  of  twenty -live  dollars,  afterwards  in- 
creased to  $200,  was  otibred  for  every  hostile  Bioux  warrior 
killed. 

These  measures  (for  details  of  which  I  beg  to  refer  you  to 
the  i-eport  of  the  Adjutant  General,)  were  effectual  in  clear- 
ing the  State  of  hoslile  Indians.  Of  Ihe  small  party  of  in- 
vading Sioux,  nine  were  killed  by  citizens  or  soldiers. 

Among  th_' tirst  of  the  Indian^;  who  paid  the  penalty  of 
their  atrocities  was  little  Crow,  the  leader  md  master  spirit 
of  tho  Sioux  outbj'cak,  who  was  killed  by  Xcithan  Lampson 
and  his  son  near  IIu f-chinson.  I  submit  to  your  coui-idera- 
tion  whether  the  brave  men,  who  v^^ere  instrumental  in  rid- 
ding the  earth  of  ihib  monster,  and  who  huve  l)cen  reduced 
to  penury  by  tho  Iniliaii  raid,  are  not  entitled  to  some  re- 
ward commensurate  with  the  service  rendered. 

It  may  be  hoped  that  the  disastrous  rcftult  of  this  incur- 
sion will  ju-event  anything  of  tho  kind  in  future.  But  it 
would  be  dangerous  and  foolhardy,  to  act,  upon  any  tiich 
presumjjtion.  TJie  fact  that  seveial  thousand  Indians  ave 
congregated  at  points  near  our  we  tern  bouutlary,  to  whom 
murder  is  glory  and  jiilago  a  nece.s.^ity,  tiie  facilities  which 
in  spite  of  ordinary  mibiary  precautious  tlie  innnenso  extent 
of  our  frontier  aiibrds  for  tJudden  and  secret  descenrs  upon 
our  settlements,  and  the  incalculable  mibcluef  wliich  even 
one  desperate  miscreant  lurking  in  the  v,oods  and  grass  can 
inllict,  warn  us  to  omit  or  relax  no  preparations  which  liave 
been  found  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the  exposed  dis- 


M 


*T"i| 


;(;• 

'''"!l 


M 


1  '  f '  1 


Mi, 


t    !■ 


22 


governor's  AIISSAOI. 


.ill 


tricts.  The  counsels  and  experience  of  the  able  and  ener- 
getic soldier  who  is  to  succeed  me,  will  prove  of  inestimable 
service  to  the  State,  in  providing  for  the  exigencies  of  the 
frontier,  and  to  him  I  gladly  remit  the  subject. 

In  this  connection,  I  may  be  permitted  to  suggest  the  pro- 
priety of  building  a  State  Armory.  The  history  of  the  past 
two  years  has  demonstrated  the  necessity,  particularly  in  a 
border  State,  of  a  permanent  repository  of  State  arms,  and 
it  can  hardly  be  questioned  that  it  would  be  better  economy 
to  erect  a  building  for  the  purpose,  than  to  continue  the  ex 
travagant  rent  we  are  now  paying  for  an  inconvenient  auii 
unsafe  place,  I  may  here  mention  that  the  State  Historical 
Society  has  ofl'ered  to  convey  to  the  State,  for  that  .  ii,|ose, 
the  excellent  site,  and  the  foundation  of  the  luilding  they 
once  designed  erecting  near  the  Capitol,  on  ondition  of  re- 
serving a  room  for  their  own  use.  The  proposition  is  sub- 
mitted to  your  favorable  consideration. 

During  the  past  year,  the  people  of  the  South-western  part 
of  the  State  were  relieved  from  a  constant  source  of  vexa- 
tion and  anxiety,  und  an  important  step  was  taken  to  secure 
the  peace  and  |  robperity  of  that  part  of  the  State,  by  the  re- 
moval of  the  Winn  bago  Indians,  who,  with  the  remnant  of 
the  Sioux,  were  taken  to  new  reservations  on  the  Missouri. 

The  residue  of  the  condemned  Sioux  were  taken  in  the 
spring  to  Kock  Island,  where  these  viijlaters  and  nmrderers 
of  our  women  and  children  are  now  being  fed  and  housed, 
in  comfort  and  safety,  by  the  Government. 

In  the  fall,  an  important  Treaty  was  concluded  by  Senator 
Rarase)',  with  the  Ued  Lake  and  [*■  nil>ina  bands  of  Chippe- 
was,  by  whicli  tl  i'  Indian  title  wjih  <  rv^iicyuiBhed  to  some 
10,000  square  miles  of  Territory.  '  'ii's^v;  ig  the  j^v.iierican 
valley  of  the  lied  Iliver,  and  leaving  but  a  small,  and  to 
white  men,  worthless  fragment  of  land  now  owned  by  In- 
dians in  this  State.  J3y  this  Treaty  another  prolilic  source 
of  Indian  diiiiculties  lias  been  removed.  The  navigation 
(  <  the  Ilcvi  iiiver,  and  the  valuable  and  growing  commerce 
with  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  settlements,  which  passes 
over  the  ceded  lands,  have  been  freed  from  the  obstructions 


Cii 
us 


I  ener- 
Imable 
of  the 

lie  pro- 
be past 
rly  in  a 
18,  and 
conomy 
the  ex 
ent  iT-Uil 
ittorlcal 
^)urpose, 
ing  thoy 
on  of  re- 
n  is  snb- 

iern  part 
of  vexa- 
to  secure 
)y  the  re- 
mnant of 
Missouri, 
ill  in  the 
lurderers 
housed, 

Senator 
Chippe- 
to   some 
aierican 
1,  and  to 
dby  In- 
tic  source 
avigation 
eoniraerce 
ich  passes 
structions 


OOVEBNOB^S  MESSAOE.  §§ 

and  dangers  arising  from  the  pretensions  of  these  Indians  to 
the  ownership  of  tlie  soil ;  pretensions  which  have  hereto- 
fore led  to  serious  <  predations  and  menaced  grave  distur- 
bances in  the  future. 

Congress  last  waiter  passed  au  act  providing  for  the  par- 
tial compensation  of  tho  sufferers  by  the  Indian  outbreak. 
The  Chairman  of  the  Commission  appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent to  examine  and  audit  the  claims  of  the  sufferers, 
Hon.  Cyrus  Aldrich,  informs  me  that  the  claims  presented 
and  filed  up  to  September  Ist,  numbered  2,940,  and  amount- 
ed to  $2,458,000. 

The  awards  of  the  commission  on  claims  proved  up  and 
audited,  amounted  to  $1,370,374,  of  which  $200,000,  the 
sum  already  appropriated  by  Congress,  has  been  paid  out 
to  some  1,300  sufferers  deemed  entitled  to  immediate  relief. 
Although  the  commission  has  been  indefatigii^le  in  its  ar- 
duous  labors,  the  work  is  not  yet  completed,  l-ut  this  state- 
ment reveals  the  extent  of  the  actual  depredations  commit- 
ted by  the  Indians  on  property  alone,  though  falling  far 
short  of  exhibiting  the  indirect  suffering  and  loss  occasioned 
by  the  outbreak. 

That  portion  of  Minnesota  which  borders  on  Lake  Supe- 
rior, embracing  the  counties  of  Carlton,  St.  Louis  and  Lake, 
abounds  in  precious  ores,  and  has  interests  peculiar  to  itself 
which  deserve  the  fostering  care  of  the  Legislature.  Mining 
companies  are  operating  there  with  good  prospects  of  suc- 
cess. In  the  last  apportionment,  these  counties  were  grouped 
with  Stearns,  Morrison,  etc.,  on  the  Upper  Mississippi,  to 
form  the  Third  District,  which  sends  one  Senator  and  three 
Representatives.  The  great  preponderance  of  tbo  latter  in 
population,  deprives  the  former  of  any  representation  iVom 
their  own  citizens  in  the  Legislature,  and  their  geograpliical 
isolation  from  the  rest  of  the  District,  prevents  their  partici- 
pating intelligently  in  elections,  whiie  the  votes  they  cast 
are  sometimes  received  at  the  senior  county,  too  late  to  be 
counted.  It  is  a  matter  of  importance  to  the  State,  as  well 
as  to  the  population  of  this  locality,  that  the  immediate  and 
peculiar  interests  of  that  vast  and  rich  mineral  and  lumber 


-I 


r 


1.  ' 


■  if  m 


ii' 


m 


r\- 


u 


governor's   JIE89AGE. 


region,  should  bo  represented  in  your  counsels  by  some  Oiio 
well  and  personail}'^  acquainted  with  the  local  geography, 
and  physical  t'ormation  and  resources  of  the  country. 

I  submit  to  yon  wliotiicr  any  relief  can  bo  alibrded  by 
your  legislation  in  the  premises. 

No  astronomical  observations  have  ever  been  taken  to  de- 
termine the  latitude  and  lon>;ita(le  of  St.  Paul,  and  its  ex- 
:ict  geograj^hical  jiosition  has  never  been  ascertained  nor 
correctly  given  in  publislied  maps. 

It  is  time  that  a  point  so  interesting  to  science,  concerning 
the  frontier  city  of  the  North-west  sliould  be  established. 
Colonel  J.  1>.  Graham,  of  the  United  States  Engineer  Corps, 
stationed  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  gou'U'ously  (^jfcrs  to  visit 
this  city  with  two  abhistant^,  for  the  purp(»se  of  nuiking  the 
observations  necessary  to  obtain  the  information,  upon  the 
payment  of  their  actual  traveling  exjiensea,  wliich  cannot  be 
charged  to  the  United  States.  1  recommend  an  tt]>propria- 
tion  for  the  purpose. 

I  deem  it  lu^t  only  proper  for  mo,  but  my  duty  to  recom- 
mend that  you  increase  the  com])en8atlon  now  allowed  by 
law  to  your  Governor  and  Commander-in-Cyhief.  The  otlice 
is  one  at  all  tinu^s  attended  with  heavy  cares  and  responsibili- 
ties, and,  in  a  cri-is  like  this,  with  much  labor.  The  best 
talent  and  the  piirest  integrity  will  iind  ample  scope  for 
exercise  in  the  laithfnl  discharge  of  its  duties.  The  present 
Hilary,  at  the  tiine  it  was  lixed,  was  i)erha])3  snllicient  for 
an  iiicnndient  who  lived  at  the  capital,  and  wan  not  coui- 
])olled  to  incur  tho  expense;  of  changing  liis  residence,  and 
renting  a  house  in  which  to  dirfpense  fitting  hospitjdities. 
In  these  times,  however,  it  would  not  be  ade(piate  for  the 
8Ui>})ort  of  an  ordinary  family  under  lik  i  circnmrttanccR, 
mneh  le-s  for  one  eompello(4  to  remove  hither  fn-m  some 
other  ))ortion  of  the  State.  The  i)eople  have  alreiidy  com- 
niencc'd  to  select  this  'jtlicer  ontsi.lo  of  the  c;»|iit;il  district, 
and  at  the  pri'^ent  pri<'eH  of  rent  and  rates  of  living  in  St, 
l*anl,  tluf  Kalnry  how  [nv'\  in  State  warranto,  whieh  ho  is 
compelled  to  dispose  of  at  a  discount,  is  nut  more  than  half 


It 


I 


governor's  message. 


25 


sufficient  for  his  support,  in  the  style  in  which  the  Chief 
Magistrate  of  the  State  is  expected  and  ought  to  live. 

I  do  not  consider  it  desirable  that  the  compensation 
should  be  so  increased  as  to  render  it  possible  for  the  office 
to  be  sought  as  a  means  of  making  money,  but  most  assur- 
edly, the  Governor  of  this  State  ought  not  to  be  compelled 
to  engage  a  portion  of  his  time  in  some  trade  or  protbssion 
or  draw  upon  private  resources  to  eke  out  an  insufficient 
salary,  and  detray  his  actual  expenses  while  devoting  his 
time  to  the  service  of  the  State.  The  people  of  Minnesota 
are  not  parsimonious  nor  mean  ;  and  while  they  would  cen- 
sure extravagance,  they  desire  you  to  be  liberal  and  gener- 
ous, and  1  do  not  entertain  a  doubt  that  they  m^H  sustain 
your  action  in  so  amending  the  law  which  establishes  the 
Governor's  salary,  that  the  poorest  man  in  the  State  can  af- 
ford to  accept  the  office. 

It  will  be  evident,  also,  upon  glancing  at  the  com])rehen- 
sive  re])ort  of  the  Adjutant  General,  showing  the  many  and 
onerous  duties  thrown  upon  that  otHccr,  that  a  salary  which 
would  be  considered  only  moderate  for  the  performance  of 
merely  clerical  labor,  is  not  sufficient  to  reward  the  industry 
and  capacity  absolutely  re([uired  of  the  incumbent  of  that 
position  now  so  ably  tilled.  I  therefore  recommend  nn  in- 
crease of  his  salary,  at  least  during  the  continuance  of  our 
national  and  frontier  troubles. 

Under  the  militia  law,  forty  regimental  and  battalion  dis- 
tricts have  been  formed,  and  all  have  been  fully  cu'  to  a 
great  extent  organized.  The  provisions  for  enforcing  the 
military  law  as  well  as  the  plan  of  orgiinization,  seem  to  be 
in  some  measure  defective,  and  in  order  to  establish  an 
available  force,  it  may  bo  necessary  for  the  JiCgisliiture  to 
make  some  amendments  to  the  existing  statute  upon  that 
subject.  The  honor  and  safety  of  the  country,  as  wi>il  as 
the  ref|uireiiients  of  tlie  Gonstitution  of  the  United  States, 
•  lemaiid  that  the  militia  shouki  be  a  force  not  merely  in 
name  but  in  reality. 

The  i)ast  year  has  added  new  lustre  to  the  achievements  of 
4 


It: 


■ '' 

'1    \M 


';'  il 


•tl:!* 


i.  ! 


26 


GOVETTNORS    MESS  AG  K. 


our  troops.  On  nearly  every  important  battle  field  of  the  war, 
their  graves  are  strewn  to  mark  the  glorious  share  of  Min- 
nesota in  the  progressive  triumphs  of  the  Union  cause.  For 
the  special  history  and  statistics  of  each  regiment,  and  a 
complete  statement  of  all  matters  referring  to  the  Military 
Department  of  the  State,  I  refer  to  the  report  of  the  Adju- 
tant General. 

During  the  past  as  in  the  preceeding  year,  agents  have 
been  sent  tt.  visit  our  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the  va- 
rious hospitals  of  the  country,  and  furnish  them  with  such 
comforts  and  assistance  as  they  might  retpiire. 

In  June,  18C2,  my  predecessor  appointed  liobert  R.  Cor- 
son, of  Philadelphia,  as  an  agent  for  the  State  to  visit  and 
minister  to  the  necessities  of  our  Minnesota  sick  and  wound- 
ed soldiers  in  that  city,  and  he  continued  to  render  this  ser- 
vice until  in  Se])tember,  1SG3,  when  ho  presented  his  claim 
for  payment.  No  money  having  been  appropriated  for  the 
purpose,  and  no  salary  agreed  upon,  I  now  refer  the  claim 
to  your  consideration.  After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  and 
the  wounded  of  our  immortal  First  were  transferred  to  the 
h(»Bpital9  of  Philadelphia,  the  Kev.  E.  D.  Keill,  formerly 
Chaplain  of  that  regiment,  and  now  residing  in  that  city, 
generously  volunteered  to  look  after  their  wants  and  comforts, 
and  to  disburse  all  funds,  and  distribute  all  articles  furnished 
him  by  the  State  or  individiuils  for  their  use. 

Through  the  Uev.  ]>.  V.  Crary,  who  visited  the  Southern 
liospitalson  behalf  (»f  the  State,  1  have  engaged  N.  P,P>ennett 
to  act  as  agent  at  St.  Jiouis,  and  G.  E.  J)civenport  at  Memphis. 

1  would  urgently  reconiinend  the  exteni^ion  of  a  system 
which,  at  (•'•niparatively  trilling  expense  does  so  much  to 
asHuage  the  hardnliip^i,  and  bind  up  the  woumls  of  war, 
with  the  gentle  ministrations  of  pers(»nal  Hymi»athy.  The 
State  can  t(-.^tily  her  gratitu'le  to  the  brave  men  M'ho  have 
gone  forth  to  battle  under  Ik  r  star,  in  no  ft»rni  so  grateful 
to  the  Roldier,  us  by  this  pniclical  assurance,  that  ho  does 
not  languish  on  his  bed  of  hiekncss  and  ))ain,  uneared  for, 
or  forgotten.  And  It  is  because  the  State  of  Minnesota 
claims  it  as  a  sacreil  privilege,  to  watcii  as  an  evei  present 


governor's  message. 


S7 


J  war, 
Min- 
.  For 
and  a 
ilitary 
Adju- 

a  have 
Lhe  va- 
il such 

R.  Cor- 
isit  and 
wound- 
;hi8  aer- 
18  claim 
.  for  the 
10  claim 
urg  and 
to  the 
brmerly 
lat  city, 
omtbrts, 
iruished 

M)nthorn 

]]cnnett 

cniphis. 
Hystom 

mneh  to 
r   war, 

y.     The 

ho  Imvo 

tfi-iitcful 

ic    (-U>«8 

iut'il  tor, 
iniicBota 

1  present 


h 


friend  over  each  and  all  of  her  ten  thousand  heroes,  through 
all  the  dread  vicissitudes  of  camp  and  battle  field,  and  hos- 
pital, and  to  cherish  as  her  own,  the  honorable  fame  that 
glows  in  the  ashes  of  her  dead,  and  crowns  the  brows  of  her 
living  warriors,  that  she  has  selected  as  her  Chief  Magistrate 
one  of  their  own  number,  a  tried  and  gallant  veteran,  who 
is  familiar  with  all  their  wants  and  aspirations,  and  knows 
how  to  soften  the  rugged  lot  of  the  soldier,  with  the  kind- 
ness and  sympathy  of  the  comrade. 

In  the  month  of  November  I  obtained  by  personal  ap- 
plication, the  consent  of  the  Secretary  of  "War  to  establish  a 
hospital  at  Winona,  for  the  invalid  soldiers  of  Minnesota, 
knowing  that  the  invigorating  air  of  our  climate  would  fa- 
cilitate their  recovery  and  save  many  precious  and  valuable 
lives  to  their  families  and  their  country.  I  regret  to  say 
that  this  consent  was  subsequently  reconsidered,  upon  rep- 
resentations of  the  Surgeon  General  that  the  locality  was 
difficult  of  access  during  the  winter. 

I  invite  your  favorable  attention  to  the  suggestion  of  the 
Adjutant  General  that  an  agent  be  appointed  by  the  State  to 
collect,  free  of  expense  to  the  claimants,  such  bounties,  ar- 
rears of  pay,  and  pensions  as  may  be  due  to  our  soldiers  or 
their  relatives.  The  plan  has  been  adopted  by  other  States, 
and  we  should  be  behind  none  in  rendering  every  aid  to 
those  who  iiavo  sufiered  for  us  in  this  terrible  contest. 

Though  the  admirable  working  of  the  allotment  system, 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  State  Treasurer,  secures 
to  the  friends  of  the  soldier  at  home  the  pittance  which  he  is 
able  to  transmit  to  them,  you  will  regret  t«)  learn  from  him, 
that  great  destitution  prevails  among  the  tamilies  of  our 
bravo  men,  ami  1  trust  that  some  etlieicnt  measures  may  be 
devised  and  r  '<»pted  for  their  relief. 

1  would  suggest  that  Minnesota  should  follow  the  exam- 
ple ot  other  States  in  ollbring  a  bounty  to  her  soldiers  in 
the  tield  who  have  re-enlisted  or  imiy  re  enlist.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  State  pride  will  prevent  any  of  our  veterans 
froui  being  ''bought  with  a  price  "  by  other  States  which 
ure  able  to  oiler  u  larger  bounty  than  we  can  pa>',  yet  the 


i 


'm 


"I  '■] 


m 


I 


I 


S8 


governor's   ME39AGE. 


3 


siiine  pride  should  induce  us  to  give  to  our  utmost  ability, 
aud  by  so  doing  as  a  State,  the  burden  falls  more  equally 
upon  the  people,  than  when  private  and  local  subscriptions 
and  donations  are  drawn  from  the  liberal  and  patriotic  only. 
I  call  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the  Jleports  of  the 
State  Auditor  aud  Attorney  General,  recommending  a  con- 
tin  »;ent  fund  for  the  latter  office. 

The  efficient  defense  of  the  right  of  the  State  in  the  seve- 
ral courts,  and  especially  with  reference  to  the  important 
interests  connected  with  the  public  lauds,  renders  this  pro- 
vision indispensable. 

A  Militia  Contingent  Fund  for  the  coming  year  will  also 
be  necessary,  and  1  recommend  that  the  sum  of  $10,000  as 
suggested  by  tho  Adjutant  General,  be  appropriated  for  that 
purpose. 

On  the  second  and  third  of  July,  the  first  of  the  gallant 
regimonts  which  Minnesota  has  sent  to  the  iield — that  regi- 
ment which  already  luis  tlie  names  of  twenty  battles  written 
upuii    its  standard — to(^k  a    prominent   part  in  one  of  the 
tiercust  stiuggles  of  the  war.     Of  the  'S'M  men  of  the  First 
Minnesota  wlio  laid   survived  the  disasters  and  triumphs  of 
the  Virginia  campaigns  from  JJull  liun  t(.»  Chancellorsville, 
to  plunge  again  with  its  shattered   ranks  and  bullet-riddled 
flag  into  tlie  vortex  of  the  conflict  at  (Jettysburg,  but  ninety- 
two  emerged  unharmed  from  the  smoke  and  glorious  issue  of 
the  struggle.     One  hundred  and  si'venty  five  were  wounded 
and  tifty-one  more  were   atlded  to  the  immortal  roll  of  its 
dead  heroes,  to  lind  a  sepulchre  with  over  twenty-one  hun- 
dred other    brave  men    from  other  States,  in  the  cemetery 
where  they  fell. 

The  (iovernor  of  Pennsylvania,  Andrew  G.  Curtin,  con- 
ceived tin-  n(»ltle  idea  of  uniting  the  States  whose  sons  had 
fallen  in  this  great  battle,  in  the  ownersiii})  and  guardian- 
ship of  the  gntuiid  consecrated  l>y  their  l)Ku)d,  (»f  gatlmring 
here  tlic  sacred  renuiins  of  the  dead  In  lotn  api>ropriated  to 
each  State,  and  of  cr»mmemorating  their  comnutn  glory  in  a 
monument  inscribed  with  the  names  (d"  the  fallen.  The  ag- 
gregate expense,  it  was  stipulated,  whould  not  e.xcoed  !^35,- 


GOVEENORS   MESSAGE. 


29 


ability, 
equally 
jriptions 
tic  only. 
•t8  of  the 
ig  a  con- 

the  Beve- 
nportant 
this  pro- 
will  also 
10,000  as 
(1  tor  that 

le  gallant 
that  regi- 
38  written 
10  of  the 
the  First 
uniphfl  of 
llorsvillo, 
et-riddled 
ut  ninety- 
vis  isbiio  of 

wounded 
roll  of  its 

one  hun- 
!  ceiuetery 

irtin,  con- 

Bons  had 

mmrdiaii- 

;j;iltluM'illg 

tpriiited  to 
•rlory  in  a 
^  Tiio  ag- 

Lceed  !^35,- 


l 


000,  but  the  estimates  have  since  increased  it  to  $63,500,  to 
be  divided  among  the  States  interested,  in  the  ratio  of  their 
representation  in  Congress.  I  did  not  hesitate  to  accept  at 
once  in  your  behalf,  a  proposition  which  insured  to  the  brave 
dead  of  Minnesota,  a  shrine  safe  from  profanation,  and  me- 
mentoes worthy  of  their  fiinie.  The  Soldier's  National 
Cemetery  of  Gettysburg  was  dedicated  with  titling  ceremo- 
nies, on  the  lyth  of  November  last.  '* 

The  share  of  Minnesota  in  the  common  fund  as  now  esti- 
mated, will  be  $830,  for  which,  confident  of  your  approval 
of  my  action  in  the  premises,  I  ask  the  necessary  appropri- 
ation. ^ 

Under  the  able  and  energetic  administration  of  ray  pre- 
decessor, Minnesota  had  sent  into  the  field  ten  Kegiments 
of  Infantry  numbering  0,053  men,  with  artillery,  cavalry 
and  sharpshooters,  comprising  G71  men  more;  in  all  9,275 
three  years  men,  and  a  lleginieiit  of  1,218  Mounted  Rang- 
ers, making  10,943  men,  besides  a  considerable  number  of 
recruits  for  all  these  organizations. 

Since  my  assumption  of  office,  a  new  call  has  been  made 
upon  the  State  for  her  quota  of  300,000  men  for  the  old 
regiments,  fixed  at  one-fifth  of  the  enrolled  men  of  the  first 
class,  under  the  "Act  for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the  na- 
tional forces."  Our  debt  under  that  call  was  about  1,300 
men,  and  to  cancel  it  with  as  little  burden  as  possible  to  the 
people  of  an  exposed  frontier  State,  I  proposed  to  the  Pree- 
ident  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  to  be  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  and  to  be  employed  in  protecting  our 
i>orderfroni  hostile Indiaj's.  My  i'e(iuestwasgranted,and  eve- 
ry facility  has  been  rendered  l)y  the  government  to  aid  in  ac- 
conq)lishingthe  object,  that  could  be  d'-'^ired.  The  time  for 
raising  the  regiment,  at  first  limited  to  the  25th  ot  October, 
WHS,  together  with  the  time  for  the  draft  for  the  deficiency, 
extended  to  the  9th  of  Noveiul)er,  and  afterwardis,  at  my 
urgent  Kolifitation,  to  the  5th  of  January,  the  time  fixed  by 
the  President  in  his  rroclamntion  of  17th  October,  calling 
tor  300,(iUO  more  volunteers,  for  drafting  the  number  that 
tihould  bo  lacking  of  our  quota  under  that  call,  at  that  date. 


•^t 


M 


:  ■<i!t(| 


m 


I 


:| 
4 

■I 

1 1  -'J  'J 

I' 'I 


!  U 


1(  I  li 


80 


GOVERNORS  JfESSAGE. 


Our  let  Kegiment  of  Mounted  Rangers  was  allowed  to  be 
mustered  out  before  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  service, 
with  a  view  to  the  enlistment  of  its  members  in  the  new  or- 
ganization. This  regiment  is  now  full,  and  with  the  recruics 
obtained  for  other  organizations,  our  account  with  the  gov- 
ernment stands  as  follows : 

The  quota  of  troops  due  the  Government  under  all 

calls  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,        -        -       15,350 

Whole  number  of  troops  furnished  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  counting  three  twelve  months 
men  equal  to  one  three  years  man,      -        -  12,616 

as  reported  to  the  Adjutant  General's  Office,  and  about  410 
not  yet  so  reported,  which  leaves  a  deficiency  of  2,424,  yet 
to  be  raised,  either  by  volunteering  or  draft,  in  order  to  fur- 
nish our  entire  quota. 

The  draft  did  not  take  place  on  the  6th  inst.,  as  was  an- 
ticipated, the  postponement  being  doubtless  made  witji  n, 
view  to  important  amendments  of  the  conscription  law  by 
Congress  before  it  goes  into  operation.  The  reluctance  of 
our  people  to  volunteer  into  old  organizations,  and  a  linger- 
ing fear  in  our  sparsely  settled  country,  so  lately  the  scene 
of  horrid  outrages  by  the  foe  behind  us,  that  they  may  bo 
needed  to  protect  their  own  heartlistunes,  may  prevent  the 
wilisting  of  a  sufficient  number  to  avoid  the  draft,  though 
the  increasing  energy  and  activity  manifested  by  the  towns 
in  eflbrts  to  raise  their  quotas,  give  flattering  promise  that 
now,  as  heretofore,  Minnesota  will  voluntarily  honor  all  calls 
upon  her  ])atrioti8m  and  devotion  to  the  IJnimi. 

I  may  here  say,  that  in  view  of  the  ])i-ol)iil)ility  tliat  the 
draft  would  take  ])l!ico,  and  in  accordance  with  rej)re8enta- 
tions  made  to  the  War  Dopartnient,  the  syateni  of  drafting 
has  been  so  far  modified  in  this  State  as  to  remedy  a  gross 
ininstiee  In  the  original  method  of  n])portioning  nuotas,  by 
conceding  to  those  townships  whose  ])atriotic  alacrity  and 
liberality  in  resjionding  to  pnivious  calls  has  drained  them 
of  men,  full  credit  for  any  excess  they  may  have  furnished, 


governor's  irESSAGE. 


31 


ed  to  be 
f  service, 
3  new  or- 
e  recruits 
the  gov- 


15,350 


12,516 

ibout  410 
^,424,  yet 
tier  to  fur- 
is  was  an- 
ido  witJi  n, 
on  law  by 
ictance  of 
1  a  linger- 
tho  scene 
y  may  be 
revent  the 
ft,  though 
the  towns 
iniHe  that 
jr  all  calls 

y  that  the 
oprceenta- 
f  drafting 
ly  a  gross 
not  as,  by 
aerity  and 
ned  thcni 
furnished, 


and  by  charging  those  townships  which  have  heretofore  fur- 
nished few  or  no  volunteers,  with  their  whole  defficiency. 
By  this  plan  the  burdens  of  the  war  will  be  equally  distrib- 
uted in  every  locality. 

There  are  good  grounds  for  believing  that  this  is  the  last 
requisition  that  will  bo  made  upon  the  loyal  States  tor 
troops.  The  rebellion  already  staggers,  death-struck,  to  its 
fall.  Three-quarters, of  the  vast  area  over  which,  when  the 
war  commenced,  the  treacherous  and  perjured  despotism  of 
Slavery  stretched  its  haughty  sceptre,  is  already  rescued  from 
the  usurped  dominion.  Of  the  twenty  millions  North  and 
South  that  wore  counted  on  to  maintain  the  cause  and  up- 
hold the  banner  of  the  traitor  chiefs,  not  six  millions  now 
adhere  to  their  desperate  fortune.  One  year  ago  my  prede- 
cessor was  compelled  to  refer  to  "  a  succession  of  disasters  " 
which  had  attended  our  arms,  and  the  "  gloom  that  en- 
shrouded our  distracted  country,"  Faith  in  our  final  tri- 
umph seemed  sinking  in  many  a  patriot  heart ;  the  sympa- 
thizer with  the  accursed  rebellion  was  bold  and  jubilant, 
and  sheltering  himself  under  the  very  entablatures  of  the 
Temple  of  Liberty, 

"  Hung  hissing  at  the  nobler  men  below." 

It  is  my  glad  privilege  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  succes- 
sion of  glorious  victories  that  have  dispelled  all  gloom,  and 
banished  every  lingering  doubt  of  the  fast  approaching  re- 
sult in  the  total  overthrow  of  the  base  conspiracy  against 
Constitutional  Liberty.  The  delusive  cry  of  "  Peace  "  is  no 
longer  heard,  words  of  sympathy  die  on  the  lips,  for  the 
handwriting  of  doom  is  upon  the  sky,  and  the  very  liours  of 
Treason  are  numbered,  and  the  death  gurgle  is  in  its  throat. 
Unshaken  faith  and  unmingled  joy  fill  all  loyal  breasts,  and 
not  an  emotion  of  sorrow  touches  a  single  heart,  that  Sla- 
very, the  foul  nursing-mother  of  all  this  woe,  must  share 
the  fate  of  her  offs^pring,  aiul  is  even  now  writhing  in  the 
throes  of  dissolution. 


II 


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32 


GOVERNOR  8   MB8SA0E. 


11 


II' 


i '? 


m 


n 


'MM;      hi 
ti'i!'  ;    a  *. 


"  Keen  are  her  pangs,  but  keener  far  to  fed, 
She  nursed  the  pinion  that  impelled  the  steel. 

Her  history  and  fjite  are  another  lesson  iu  proof  of  the 
great  truth,  tluit  "  behind  Treachery  is  Ruin,  and  above 
man  is  the  everlasting  God." 

While  she  was  contented  with  her  own  under  the  Con- 
stitution, guarded  by  millions  who  loathed  her,  she  was  se- 
cure as  if  throned  in  justice  and  right.  A  large  portion  of 
the  people  of  the  Free  States  were  in  their  generosity,  and 
love  of  harmony,  willing  to  give  her  even  more  than  the 
pound  of  flesh  nominated  in  the  bond.  But  when  it  was 
known  that  iu  her  stealthy  advances  she  was  seeking  the 
heart's  blood  of  the  Government,  her  most  chivalrous  de- 
fenders faltered.  And  when  the  old  flag  of  our  Union  went 
down  on  the  battered  walls  of  a  national  fortress,  under  the 
tire  of  stolen  national  gnns,  turned  against  a  gallant  hand- 
full  of  national  defenders,  starving  for  the  food  tliat  national 
vessels  were  wafting  in  eight,  then  in  the  united  shout  of 
twenty  millions  of  indignant  freemen  from  Eastern  to  West- 
ern oc(  an,  "  deep  calling  unto  deep,"  her  knell  was  heard. 
Party  spirit  and  party  ])rejudices  were  JMiried  and  forgotten 
in  the  all  al)Sorl)ing  patriotism  of  the  American  people,  and 
if  they  have  since  revived,  it  has  been  only  for  consignment 
to  a  more  lasting  rest,  until  our  country  is  saved.  And 
among  the  more  tiian  half  a  million  of  freemen  who  are  do- 
ing battle  to-day  in  the  holiest  cause  that  ever  stained  a 
sword,  Democrat  and  Republican  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder, 
camp  side  by  side,  knowing  only  a  common  cause  and  a 
common  enemy.  It  is  a  sublime  lesson  to  teach  the  world. 
It  is  a  Mad  and  useful  one  for  us  all,  and  when  tliis  trial 
shall  have  ended,  in  the  bright  career  of  glory  that  awaits 
us,  no  man  of  this  generation  can  ever  forget  that  in  the 
breast  of  apolitical  opponent  the  ht.'art  swells  as  fervently 
with  patriotic  love  as  in  his  own.  And  God  grant  that  out 
of  this  bloody  ordeal  may  come  unothor  spectacle  for  the 
admiration  of  all  nations,  that  though  brothers  have  joined 
in  deadly  contiict  on  the  field  of  battle,  section  been  arrayed 


QOVEENOr's  IMESSAGE. 


88 


against  section  for  destniction,  yet  when  the  contes.  xS  closed 
in  the  removal  of  its  incitements  and  the  sure  triumph  of 
the  Kight,  the  old  affection  may  return  in  overwhelming 
tide,  and  through  the  prudence,  wisdom  and  magnanimity 
of  our  national  councils,  the  old  bond  of  Union  may  be 
strengthened  with  triple  bands. 

The  way  is  made  plain  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  in  his  Proclamation  of  Amnesty,  and  let  us  pray  that 
the  olive  branch  may  be  accepted,  that  the  flag  of  our 
fathers  may  be  hoisted  over  the  grave  of  llebellion  by  hands 
lately  raised  against  it,  and  that  we  may  all  together  renew 
our  oaths  of  allegiance  to  its  stars  and  stripes,  and  pledge 
afreoh  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  the  maintenance  of  its  grand 
old  motto,  E  Flwribus  Unurn^  the  concentrated  wisdom  of 
our  ancestors,  the  mighty  spell  of  our  past  glories,  and  the 
key  to  a  still  more  brilliant  destiny  in  the  illimitable  path- 
way of  future  Empire. 

HENEY  A.  SWIFT. 

St.  Paul,  January  11, 1864. 


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